What does this transfer window tell us?

[AngerManagement]

I am sure at the start of the window many of us were expecting, ok hoping for a big signing or two as a real statement of intent that we were in the title race and were going to make a massive push for it from now until the end of the season.

A big name partner for Adebayor? A real quality winger to replace or at least compete with Lennon, even cover Bale. A towering centre back to replicate what King brings to the team etc etc etc

Ok so the window has been and gone and all we have is a couple of free transfer older players who each will be 3-4th or even 5th choice to our squad.

What does this tell us about our club? our management? our ambition? our financial position?

Does it show a lack of ambition? an admittance that after the City game we can no longer push for the title and are just happy to keep what we have assuming it will be good enough for top four and that is all that matters this season?

Do we simply not have the money to spend big now? what with our recent plans announced for the new stadium...is this loan and cheap transfer all we can afford currently?

Does it show that Levy does not want to invest big while Harry is manager and either may go down because of his court case or leave in the summer to take the England job? meaning Levy would rather wait to allocate the funds for the new man to mould the squad in his own image?

Personally I am not despondent about the window, we may not have done any business as such but then we didn't really need to and in all honesty Jan window is never a good time to do anything (no one really has done anything of note except for QPR who have a new manager and needed to make moves to stay up frankly)

I suspect that anyone worth us signing was simply not available right now, or not for the type of money that was worth it.

You sometimes have to take the "if it ain't broke...." approach, I mean you only have to cast your mind back a decade or 15 years ago to remember when Newcastle were flying high romping through everyone and about to win the league, they brought in a world star who would surely cement their dominance in Asprilla but he never really worked, as talented as he was he unbalanced their style of play and that combined with a lack of experience dealing with the pressure of a title run in saw them going into freefall and surrender a 15 point lead to finish second.

We already have a first 11 that is second to none this season, we have played some of the best most exciting football of the season and have been one of the most consistent teams in the league (hence us being third)

Why risk unbalancing our side? or ruining moral by making players discontent by pushing them down the pecking order with players who may take weeks or months to settle in and show their form? No, I am not sure Jan is the best time to make any key changes unless you really have to or indeed unless a player you simply cannot refuse becomes available.

In Saha we have a proven PL performer, a goal scorer, a work horse and someone who will at least provide as an option from the bench or in rotation which frankly this season for one reason or another Pav has not, it simply has to be an upgrade to our options (regardless of who you think is the better player of the two) because at least we can use him.

It wasn't worth bringing in someone who would expect first team football right now, what if they weren't ready and hadn't gelled with the team for 4-6 weeks? can we really afford the bedding in time? what about the effect it would have on Defoe to be pushed further down the pecking order? would that destroy his effectiveness?

Same can be said in Defence for Dawson, Kaboul or Gallas, all are more than good enough for us and anyone of them could become disgruntled at being pushed down the pecking order for a defender who could need time to settle and that is time we don't have (risky to hope they hit the ground running without a pre season gelling with their new team mates)

My only real concern is someone to cover Lennon or even upgrade, but I suppose I should be consistent and say the same could happen there with a player who might not hit the ground running and run the risk of destroying Lennon's moral at a key stage in our season. Plus perhaps its time for the likes of Pienaar and Niko to get more game time.

All in all I think it comes down to the right player simply not being avaliable at the right price and I would hope we have some key targets and a real game plan for the summer window when we should have CL football to offer and will really push our club on for next season. We have a lot of players to move on and hopefully can upgrade our squad in the quality it needs to be able to maintain this type of league for along side a CL campaign (no easy task)

I think we all need to just forget about whatever we had hoped would happen this window (Leandro, Remy whatever) and focus on what is still arguably the most exciting league season of most of our living memories. We didn't suddenly become a bad team because our transfer window wasn't amazing and maybe a key factor is that none of our direct rivals really strengthened either so at least we didn't fall back.

Who knows, our free transfer signings may just prove master strokes like Parker did when most were moaning and provide valuable cover at key times to help us get the most out of our squad.

 

[Paxtonite]

No point offering a disection of activity in a transfer window that often yields nothing of interest and in any case managers all state that it is the worst period to do business in.

Man U clearly are in need of midfielders. Did they hit the panic button? No. Chelsea have a need for strikers that can actually score and creative midfileders. Did they splash the cash? No. Arsenal need all manner of strengthening. Did they go on a spree? No. Liverpool added no one at all. Get the picture?

We live in difficult economic times. We have a stadium to build. We have yet to secure CL status for next season that would enable us to attract top drawer players. The summer is the time to do proper business.

Granted Saha and Nelsen may not tickle many people's fancies, BUT given the dog shit that players like Bassong, Pav and Pienaar were getting on these boards, then potentially, Saha and Nelsen are upgrades.

People that expected more need to take a serious chill pill. Get behind the team until the summer and then see what happens. There's always too much ridiculous excitement based on nothing but rumour and hope each window like someone with cash to splash after a lottery win is naive and foolish.

Perspective people. One step at a time.

COYS

 

[sunnydelight786]

The same as the last 5, we give it the billy big bollox yet when push comes to shove we bottle it making that big move for whatever reason.....

 

[MattyP]

I suspect this window tells us that Levy will not chuck a whole load of cash at a manager who may be going to prison. Or maybe taking the England job in the summer.

I'm hardly surprised.

 

[Azazello]

Saha and Nelsen are stop-gaps. I think Saha could actually prove a shrewd move; I don't know much about Nelsen; I bet he's no worse than Bassong at his worst though.

They seem like short-term replacements for a couple of problem-ish players who weren't happy at the club. Perhaps it even suggests that we have something good lined up for the summer re a striker and that Caulker will be fighting for a first team place next term.

I'm not worried by the signings as they seem sensible short-term options, all things considered. I'm not massively excited either I must admit.

 

[sheringmann]

Perspective: In the summer we will have to replace: Corluka (as we are now out of natural right-backs), King (who isnt getting any fitter or better), Gallas (same as King), Nelsen (same as King), Saha (same as King), Cudicini (same as King), Friedel (same as King), Gomes (sulking), Ade (on loan). We also still need a backup at right wing and at least one more striker......

THAT is perspective and we have none.

 

[mattyspurs]

The same as the last 5, we give it the billy big bollox yet when push comes to shove we bottle it making that big move for whatever reason.....

I disagree, wether or not he would have been the right signing for us, did you not hear the Marsaille President come out and say that he was offered a very generous amount of money, that alot of clubs would have found hard to turn down, for Loic Remy. That to me shows a proper statemnet of intent.

It just looks like players, clubs did not want to do business in January. According to JJ, who after this window has gone right up in my estimation on the ITK status, we have got alot of things ready for the summer. So I am hoping that because no one big wanted to move, join us this january, we will make the moves early ion the summer, just lkike we did with Luka before the last Euros.

I would rather a couple of inexpensive stop gaps than spunk money away on something that isin't right for us.

 

[AngerManagement]

The same as the last 5, we give it the billy big bollox yet when push comes to shove we bottle it making that big move for whatever reason.....

What big move was there for us to make?

£18m plus for Remy Eek

£25m for Leandro who would come in after a long Brazilian campaign and probably need half a season to even settle and adjust (plus would probably not be released until their CL campaign finished) all the while potentially unsettling Defoe and maybe even Ade.

as mentioned, no one really did big business. Anyone who would be worth signing would cost an arm and a leg as most likely their club would not want to sell and need to replace.

Summer will be the time to do business, we will know where we stand, know what we need and know what type of budget to allocate in terms of both fees and maybe wage (think of all the factors that need to be sorted still, Harry's court case and or England job, Ade permanent signing, ability to sell surplus players, whether we have CL football, dare I say whether we are champions of England.....numerous factors that may effect both our of wants and needs and our ability to attract players)

 

[kaz Hirai]

couldnt really care less if we didnt sign anyone, thought the squad looked in good shape

losing a bunch of players and not replacing them though is silly. There's alot of games to play still

 

[Donki]

NOT surprised in our transfer dealings and not dissappointed, signing any striker is a risk especially a foriegn one. They would need time to bed in, and time to get up to speed with the premiership, time we can't afford to give them. Our squad is good enough to keep up the pressure and IF we keep Saha fit he will fit into our system well when called on. We're sitting third within reach of the top 2 people need to get perspective and realise we don't have the financial stricken to lump cash on players and wages. There are at least 5 players we need off the books IMO and hopefully some of the loan deals will become perminant. Lookin forward to the rest ofthe season.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Wew have tried to make big moves in the last 5 windows yet everytime have come up short, it's not just about this window is it....

Truth is we have our place in the pecking order and should stick to our level.....

 

[AngerManagement]

couldnt really care less if we didnt sign anyone, thought the squad looked in good shape

losing a bunch of players and not replacing them though is silly. There's alot of games to play still

Most of what we lost were players who weren't really part of our plans though to be fair.

The only real questionable decision was allowing Corluka to go with no real RB cover for Walker now. although Kaboul can play there pretty well or we could even switch to 3 at the back....I also suspect Walker will prettty much play every game anyway (inspite of this injury last night)

Pienaar and Bassong, well if they are not part of our plans and we wish to sell them it does make sense to let them go somewhere and show what they can do (prove their worth) so that either the team they are at wish to sign them for the type of money we ask or others who see what they can do will.

 

[kaz Hirai]

having no backup for walker is poor

gallas and king could quite easily be out for long term at any notice, leaving us with dawson and kaboul

give me bassong who formed an excellent partnership with dawson which led us to 4th over 34 year old super slow ryan nelsen

like i said yesterday, I just hope we remain mostly injury free, if so none of this will become an issue

 

[Donki]

Wew have tried to make big moves in the last 5 windows yet everytime have come up short, it's not just about this window is it....

Truth is we have our place in the pecking order and should stick to our level.....

That's the spirit!! Lol Eek

 

[AngerManagement]

Wew have tried to make big moves in the last 5 windows yet everytime have come up short, it's not just about this window is it....

Truth is we have our place in the pecking order and should stick to our level.....

What is our position in the pecking order? Ok we don't pay crazy wages that we can't afford like the likes of Leeds and West Ham did for a time.

We don't spent billionaire oil money on players because we don't have a billionaire owner..

We have however over the past few years assembled a very decent squad of players, one in fact that is so good we really don't need to make massive changes or spend crazy amounts of money (such transfers don't always pay off, ask Torres and Chelsea or Carroll and Liverpool)

This window was slow, nothing major happened. What deal did our rivals make you wish we had made? Zamora from Fulham?? ok he may have been a better signing over all than Saha but maybe Saha suits our needs better, Zamora would want first team football, something we probably couldn't offer him as much as he would like.

We have brought in Friedel (our most consistently good keeper I can EVER remember at the Lane) Parker, who has transformed us, he brings much needed qualities in his work rate, leadership and desire in the centre of the park. His presence could also be of great benefit to to Sandro, Huddlestone and many of our developing youngsters.

Adebayor is a great footballer, ok he is only a loan but he has served us well this season and will either have been a great short term solution to get us back in CL which will enable to to sign the best replacement we can or will end up being a cheap signing for someone of his quality.

We have also brought in VdV in recent windows, a WORLD CLASS PLAYER.

We already have a great squad, one that is challenging for the league this season and well above our target of fourth currently. You speak as if our transfer activity is taking us backwards when in fact we are actually doing better now than any time in my memory as a Spurs fan (and I go back to the Waddle/Gazza season)

 

[Maske2g]

Smart moves....as expected....deluded fans...as per norm

What were you really expecting?

Hasan't the transfer window taught you anything?

Carroll 35M?
Torres 50m?
Henderson 20m?

You cannot buy expensive gambles in January. You pay over the odds, because teams will not sell their best players!!

So what have we done?

We have given Adebayor a desperately needed kick up the arse by signing Louis Saha. A sixth month loan, of a player who has won league titles, and is a nuisance of a forward. He may well make 2 starts and 6 sub appearances.....but so what....its FREEEEE. And he will do a better job up top on his own than Defoe or Pav.

"BUT We've weakened our squad!!!"

Really?

Pavlyuchenko should have been sold 18 months ago, to prevent the agony of these tedious transfer windows. He has played 70 minutes of Premier league football this season.

Pienaar has been desperately unlucky. He could come back next season on fire and ready to play. He has play 16 minutes of premier league football this season.

Bassong has been treated like a prick for 2 seasons and doesn't want to be here. We need to build up his value again by playing well for Wolves. He is our 5th choice centre half, and has played 136 mins of premier league football this season


So there....we've loaned out or sold three squad players that have amassed less than 2.5 league games between them this season.


And Look around.... total transfers, 58 million. Teams have grown wise to this January bollocks.

 

[sunnydelight786]

That's the spirit!! Lol Eek

Harry has done a fantastic job so far, and long may that continue, but in the transfer market his policy is to play it safe by buying PL proven players. He does not really want to gamble on a foreign player incase of failure hence when we are linked with all these exotic names I don't tend to get excited unlike others. It worked for Harry so far hence we cannot really argue but you do wonder at times if he was a bit bolder in the market where we could be. He baulked at paying the £ for Cavani* 2 summers back and look howgood he has turned out.

* I am using Cavani as 1 example....

 

[Wirral Spurs]

Great financial management but could leave us short.
I don't think we will ever sign a big money player whilst DL is at the helm. Our success has come from young talent moving up a level and my issue is we have not made any progress in this area (players like Alex Oxlade Chamberlain).
Maybe he is preparing the Club for a sale by taking out cost? AEG anyone?

 

[AngerManagement]

having no backup for walker is poor

gallas and king could quite easily be out for long term at any notice, leaving us with dawson and kaboul

give me bassong who formed an excellent partnership with dawson which led us to 4th over 34 year old super slow ryan nelsen

like i said yesterday, I just hope we remain mostly injury free, if so none of this will become an issue

I see what you are saying, but you don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

What if Bassong and Corluka were kicking up a fuss about lack of game time and their presence threatened the harmony of the squad. Perhaps it was determined that they were no longer capable of covering us effectively and we would be better off with a short term solution of a kid.

Speculation of course, but it is clear neither are in our plans now and their loan spells at least provide them time to increase their value for when we can sell them.

King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul and Nelson.....that's quite a lot of Centre backs, and Livermore and Hudd can also cover there if needs be (frankly Bassong on recent form is no better, especially if his head/heart is no longer at the club)

Anyway you spin it we just have to go with what we have, its not like we have sold a valuable first teamer, everyone who has moved on is pretty much surplus to requirements .

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Henderson wasn't signed in January.

But apart from that I think you are spot on.